Application Note AP-202

rev 3 al.04-99

The ABCs Of Gases In The Industry

Ammonia: NH3

n-Butane*: C4H10

Colorless gas with a pungent suffocating odor

STEL: 35 ppm
TWA: 50 ppm
IDLH: 300 ppm
LEL: 15% by volume
Ionization Potential: 10.18 eV
Fertilizer Plants
Fish & Meat Packing Plants
Industrial Refrigeration and Cold Storage
Semiconductor Industry
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants
Munitions

Colorless gas with a gasoline-like odor

STEL: 1 ppm
TWA: OSHA 5 ppm
LEL: 1.6% by volume
Aerosol Propellant Filling Docks
Feed stock for Chemical Processes
Storage Tanks and Filling Docks

Refer to AP-201 for further information

Benzene: C 6 H 6

Carbon Dioxide: CO2

Colorless liquid with aromatic odor

STEL: 2.5 ppm
TWA: 0.5 ppm
LEL: 1.2%
Refineries
Oil & Gas Distribution
Feed Stock for Chemical Production
Solvent Distribution Centers
Gas Stations

Colorless, odorless gas

STEL: 30,000 ppm
TWA: OSHA 5000 ppm
IDLH: 40,000 ppm
Breweries and Wineries
Carbonated Beverage Bottling Plants
Dry Ice Plants, Food Processing Plants, Fruit Storage
and Ripening Chambers
Greenhouses, Indoor Air Quality Studies, and
Ventilation Control
Mushroom Farms Stack Gas
Oil Well Injection

Carbon Monoxide: CO

Chlorine: Cl2

Colorless, odorless gas - most abundant toxic gas

STEL: ppm
TWA: OSHA 50 ppm
LEL: 12.5%
IDLH: 1200 ppm
Furnaces
Gasoline Generators/Engines
Grain Storage Silos
Lumber Drying Kilns
Mining and Metals
Parking Garages

Green-yellow gas with a pungent, irritating odor

STEL: 0.3 ppm
TWA: OSHA 0.1 ppm
IDLH: 5 ppm
Mining & Metals Industry
Nuclear Reactors
Pulp & Paper Mills
PVC Plastics Manufacturing
Semiconductor Water Etching Facilities
Swimming Pool Chlorinization Plants
Water Treatment Plants
Chlorine Gas Manufacturing

RAE Systems Inc.

3775 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95134-1708 USA

Phone: +1.888.723.8823
Email: raesales@raesystems.com
Web Site: www.raesystems.com

Application Note AP-202

rev 3 al.04-99

n-Hexane*: C6H14
Colorless liquid with a gasoline-like odor
TWA: OSHA 500 ppm
LEL: 1.1%
IDLH: 1100 ppm
Electric Generation
Gas Stations
Peanut Oil Extraction Plants
Solvent Distribution Centers

Hydrogen*: H2
Colorless gas
No exposure limits Simple asphyxiant
Battery Charging Stations
Semiconductor Plants for Water Furnaces
Underground Vaults Containing Transformers
Vegetable Oil Hydrogenation Plants

Hydrogen Cyanide: HCN

Hydrogen Sulfide: H2S

Colorless gas with a bitter, almond-like odor

TWA: OSHA 10 ppm
LEL: 5.6%
IDLH: 50 ppm
Plating and Mining
Nylon Manufacturing

Colorless gas with a strong odor of rotten eggs

TWA: OSHA 20 ppm
LEL: 4.0%
IDLH: 100 ppm
Leather Tanneries and Paper Mills
Mining and Metals Industry
Oil Fields and Refineries
Sewage Treatment Plants
Sewer Maintenance

Methane: CH 4

Nitric Oxide: NO

Colorless, odorless gas odorized with mercaptans

Primary component of natural gas
No exposure limits Simple asphyxiant
LEL: 5%
Oil & Gas Distribution & Refining
Mining Industry

Colorless gas
TWA: NIOSH/OSHA 25 ppm
IDLH: 100 ppm
Semiconductor Plants
Mining

Nitrogen Dioxide: NO2

Oxygen Deficiency: O2

Reddish-brown with a pungent odor

STEL: 1 ppm
TWA: OSHA 5 ppm
IDLH: 20 ppm
Boilers and Furnaces
Diesel Emissions
Semiconductor Plants
Mining Industry

Colorless, odorless gas

Cargo Holds and Storage Tanks
Grain Storage Silos With Inerted Atmospheres
Liquid Nitrogen Storage
LN2 Cooled Laser Facilities
LN2 Cooled Telescope
Sewer Maintenance
Sewer Treatment Facilities
Underground Vaults (Utilities)

RAE Systems Inc.

3775 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95134-1708 USA

Phone: +1.888.723.8823
Email: raesales@raesystems.com
Web Site: www.raesystems.com

Application Note AP-202

rev 3 al.04-99

Propane*: C3H8

Sulfur Dioxide: SO2

Colorless, odorless gas

TWA: OSHA 1000 ppm
LEL: 2.1%
IDLH: 2100 ppm (LEL)
Aerosol Propellant Filling Lines
Feed stock for various Chemical Processes
Propane-powered Forklifts
Storage Tanks & Filling Docks

Colorless gas with a pungent odor

STEL: 5 ppm
TWA: NIOSH 2 ppm
IDLH: 100 ppm
Circuit Board Etching
Diesel Emissions
Paper Mills
Sulfur Processing Plants (SO2)
Water Treatment

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Refer to the NIOSH Pocket Guide for specific chemical hazards

Airline Maintenance Facilities (Jet fuel - refer to AP200)

Consultant Engineering
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks
Petrochemical Manufacturing
Aerospace Manufacturing
Automotive Manufacturing (paint boothsrefer to AP204)
High Tech Electronics Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Chemical Printed Circuit Board Fabrication
Transportation (spills from tankers, cars)
Printing (lithography and flexography)
Fiberglass reinforced plastics (refer to AP-205)
Hazardous Waste Facilities

Coating (cans, coils, and fabrics)

Forest products
Component manufacturing (parts spray-painting, resin
components, adhesive components, misc.
metalworking)
Regulatory agencies (OSHA, EPA, DOT)
Military (base closures)
Marine Chemists (ships and barges)
Emergency Response/HazMat teams (refer to AP-203)
Fire Departments: Arson Investigation
TSD (Treatment, Storage & Disposal)
Municipal/Public Works
Federal, State and Municipalities
Coke oven off gases (refer to AP-206)

*Denotes Combustible Gas

RAE Systems Inc.

3775 N. First St., San Jose, CA 95134-1708 USA

Phone: +1.888.723.8823
Email: raesales@raesystems.com
Web Site: www.raesystems.com